Carbrook Hall was purchased by a local company, West Street Leisure, from Punch Taverns in March 2017. Since then, it has been closed to the public. The pub became an Asset of Community Value (ACV) in May 2017 following a collaborative application from Sheaf Valley Heritage Group and Sheffield and District CAMRA.
The last year has seen both a number of arson attempts and local press reports regarding the sale of contents from the building. In addition, all external signage (apart from the Lower Don Valley History Trails blue plaque) has been removed.
Carbrook Hall in 1910
Regarding the attempted sale of artefacts, the current owner, Sean Fogg, is on record as stating: “If anyone has got any items from the pub they’ve got it without our consent“. He is also quoted as stating that there was a “misunderstanding” between him and the man advertising the goods, who had been employed to clear fire-damaged material.
This historic public house with its connections with the Bright family and the siege of Sheffield Castle includes the Grade II* listed stone wing that was added about 1620. The ‘Old Oak Room’ is an oak-panelled ground floor room with vine trail plaster frieze and enriched cross beam ceiling, also with vine trail. There is also an elaborate early oak chimney-piece with Corinthian columns and allegorical figures and Latin inscription on the over mantel. The motif represents ‘Wisdom trampling upon Ignorance’.
The 17th-century “Old Oak Room”. Credit: Mick Slaughter.
It also has framed panelling with painted decoration and a larger stone chimney-piece with corniced mantelshelf and over mantel flanked by unusual caryatids. There is also a door with shaped fielded panels, and three late C18th. panelled doors. This description is based on visits in 2016 and early 2017. We hope that this room remains intact.
We also understand that planning/listed building applications to alter and change the use of the building are likely to be submitted in the near future. The long-term survival of Carbrook Hall requires a functioning business operating on the premises. This could be a pub, or it could have another use.
Fire damage in April 2018. Credit: Sheaf Valley Heritage.
However, the current situation is simply one of neglect – a Grade II* listed building with ACV status slowly rotting – this an embarrassment for the city.
Dave Pickersgill
